§ MR. DALRYMPLE (Ipswich)asked the Under Secretary of State for India, If Her Majesty's Government have had their attention called to the urgency of prosecuting public works in Burmah; if there is any prospect of the railway near Mandalay, which has already been surveyed, being begun; and, whether an offer has been laid before the Secretary of State and the Government of India for the construction of the railway, the prosecution of which would greatly assist the administration of Burmah?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE (Sir JOHN GORST) (Chatham)The attention of Her Majesty's Government has been for some time directed to the urgency of prosecuting public works in Burmah, and they have addressed communications to the Govern- 554 ment of India on the subject. Of the railway from Rangoon to Mandalay—a distance of 416 miles—166 miles are completed, and 62 are under survey. Several offers for the construction of this railway have been submitted to the Secretary of State; but until an answer is received from the Government of India no decision can be arrived at.
§ MR. DALRYMPLEasked whether it was not the case that the Government of India was waiting for the decision of the Secretary of State, and that while each waited for the other nothing was done?
§ SIR JOHN GORSTsaid, he did not believe that that was the fact; but if his hon. Friend gave Notice of the Question he would inquire and ascertain.